BRAN
37 布蘭
A light snow was falling. Bran could feel the flakes on his face, melting as they touched his skin like the gentlest of rains. He sat straight atop his horse, watching as the iron portcullis was winched upward. Try as he might to keep calm, his heart was fluttering in his chest.
天空下著細(xì)雪，布蘭可以感覺到臉上飄落的雪花，一碰皮膚便即融化，像一陣輕柔的雨。他筆直地騎在馬上，看著鐵閘門被絞盤向上拉起。他雖竭力想保持鎮(zhèn)定，心臟卻一直在胸口狂跳個不停。
“Are you ready?” Robb asked.
“準(zhǔn)備好了嗎？”羅柏問。
Bran nodded, trying not to let his fear show. He had not been outside Winterfell since his fall, but he was determined to ride out as proud as any knight.
布蘭點點頭，試著不露出害怕的神色。雖然自墜樓以來，他便沒有踏出過臨冬城一步，但他打定主意要像個騎士一樣昂首騎馬出去。
“Let’s ride, then.” Robb put his heels into his big grey-and-white gelding, and the horse walked under the portcullis.
“那我們走吧。”羅柏一夾馬肚，騎著他那匹灰白相間的大公馬穿過閘門。
“Go,” Bran whispered to his own horse. He touched her neck lightly, and the small chestnut filly started forward. Bran had named her Dancer. She was two years old, and Joseth said she was smarter than any horse had a right to be. They had trained her special, to respond to rein and voice and touch. Up to now, Bran had only ridden her around the yard. At first Joseth or Hodor would lead her, while Bran sat strapped to her back in the oversize saddle the Imp had drawn up for him, but for the past fortnight he had been riding her on his own, trotting her round and round, and growing bolder with every circuit.
“前進?！辈继m向自己的坐騎耳語。他輕觸它的脖子，栗子色的小母馬便邁步向前。布蘭為它取名“小舞”。它今年兩歲，喬賽斯說它聰明得不像馬。他們已經(jīng)對它進行過特別訓(xùn)練，讓它對韁繩、聲音和碰觸有反應(yīng)，但到目前為止，布蘭只是騎它繞繞廣場。最初喬賽斯或阿多會牽著它，布蘭則被綁在它背上那個超大的馬鞍上——馬鞍是照小惡魔的設(shè)計圖打造的。不過這兩個星期以來，他已經(jīng)能獨自駕馭，騎著它來回慢跑，每繞一圈，膽子就更大。
They passed beneath the gatehouse, over the drawbridge, through the outer walls. Summer and Grey Wind came loping beside them, sniffing at the wind. Close behind came Theon Greyjoy, with his longbow and a quiver of broadheads; he had a mind to take a deer, he had told them. He was followed by four guardsmen in mailed shirts and coifs, and Joseth, a stick-thin stableman whom Robb had named master of horse while Hullen was away. Maester Luwin brought up the rear, riding on a donkey. Bran would have liked it better if he and Robb had gone off alone, just the two of them, but Hal Mollen would not hear of it, and Maester Luwin backed him. If Bran fell off his horse or injured himself, the maester was determined to be with him.
他們穿過城門樓，越過吊橋，走出外城墻。夏天和灰風(fēng)跑在他們身畔，嗅著風(fēng)中的氣息。緊跟在后的是帶著長弓和羽箭的席恩·葛雷喬伊。出發(fā)前他說過，今天定要獵頭鹿回去。在他后面的是四個穿著鎖子甲，戴著鎖甲頭套的衛(wèi)士，以及骨瘦如柴的喬賽斯。胡倫離開之后，羅柏便指派喬賽斯擔(dān)任新的馬房總管。魯溫師傅騎著驢子殿后。布蘭本來希望就他和羅柏兩個人出去，但哈爾·莫蘭不肯答應(yīng)，魯溫師傅也持相同意見。為防布蘭落馬或負(fù)傷，師傅打定主意隨侍在旁。
Beyond the castle lay the market square, its wooden stalls deserted now. They rode down the muddy streets of the village, past rows of small neat houses of log and undressed stone. Less than one in five were occupied, thin tendrils of woodsmoke curling up from their chimneys. The rest would fill up one by one as it grew colder. When the snow fell and the ice winds howled down out of the north, Old Nan said, farmers left their frozen fields and distant holdfasts, loaded up their wagons, and then the winter town came alive. Bran had never seen it happen, but Maester Luwin said the day was looming closer. The end of the long summer was near at hand. Winter is coming.
城堡外便是市集廣場，只是如今木頭搭建的攤位全部荒廢。他們行經(jīng)鎮(zhèn)里的泥濘街道，穿過排列整齊，用木材和粗石建成的小屋。眼下只有不到五分之一的房屋有人跡，幾縷細(xì)細(xì)的柴煙從煙囪升起。隨著天氣越趨寒冷，其余的空屋也會漸漸住滿。老奶媽說，等到降雪時節(jié)來臨，冰風(fēng)從北吹來，農(nóng)民們便會離開他們結(jié)凍的田地和遙遠的村舍，把行李載上馬車運到鎮(zhèn)內(nèi)居住，然后避冬市鎮(zhèn)便會熱鬧起來。布蘭從沒見過這番景象，但魯溫師傅說那樣的日子就快來了。因為長夏已盡，凜冬將至。
A few villagers eyed the direwolves anxiously as the riders went past, and one man dropped the wood he was carrying as he shrank away in fear, but most of the townfolk had grown used to the sight. They bent the knee when they saw the boys, and Robb greeted each of them with a lordly nod.
他們騎馬經(jīng)過時，有幾個村民不安地看著冰原狼，還有一個人丟下抱著的木材，害怕得慌忙躲開，不過大多數(shù)村民早已習(xí)慣了這種情景。看到兩個男孩，他們單膝跪下，而羅柏也頗有領(lǐng)主風(fēng)范地——頷首致意。
With his legs unable to grip, the swaying motion of the horse made Bran feel unsteady at first, but the huge saddle with its thick horn and high back cradled him comfortingly, and the straps around his chest and thighs would not allow him to fall. After a time the rhythm began to feel almost natural. His anxiety faded, and a tremulous smile crept across his face.
因為雙腳無法用力夾緊，騎馬時的晃動起初使布蘭覺得很不安穩(wěn)，但大馬鞍厚實高聳的靠背，卻如搖籃一般舒服地?fù)е?，而綁住大腿和胸部的皮帶也讓他不致落馬。經(jīng)過一段時間，他漸漸習(xí)慣了搖晃的節(jié)奏，焦慮褪去，一抹害怕的微笑爬上了臉龐。
Two serving wenches stood beneath the sign of the Smoking Log, the local alehouse. When Theon Greyjoy called out to them, the younger girl turned red and covered her face. Theon spurred his mount to move up beside Robb. “Sweet Kyra,” he said with a laugh. “She squirms like a weasel in bed, but say a word to her on the street, and she blushes pink as a maid. Did I ever tell you about the night that she and Bessa...”
兩個女侍站在煙柴酒館的招牌下。當(dāng)席恩·葛雷喬伊向她們打招呼時，比較年輕的那個女孩滿面通紅，用手遮臉。席恩踢馬跑到羅柏旁邊?！皠P拉真可愛，”他笑道，“在床上她扭得像只黃鼠狼，可在街上跟她一句話還沒說完，臉就紅了，好像自己還是個黃花閨女似的。我有沒有跟你說過那天晚上她和貝莎——”
“Not where my brother can hear, Theon,” Robb warned him with a glance at Bran.
“席恩，不要在我弟弟面前講這種事?！绷_柏告誡他，又瞄了布蘭一眼。
Bran looked away and pretended not to have heard, but he could feel Greyjoy’s eyes on him. No doubt he was smiling. He smiled a lot, as if the world were a secret joke that only he was clever enough to understand. Robb seemed to admire Theon and enjoy his company, but Bran had never warmed to his father’s ward.
布蘭望向別處，假裝自己沒聽到，但他感覺得到葛雷喬伊的視線落在身上?？上攵丝痰乃欢ㄕ谖⑿?。他一天到晚微笑，仿佛整個世界就是個秘密的玩笑，而惟有聰明的他能理解。羅柏似乎對席恩頗為佩服，也很喜歡與他為伴，但布蘭始終無法對父親的養(yǎng)子產(chǎn)生感情。
Robb rode closer. “You are doing well, Bran.”
羅柏靠過來?！安继m，你騎得很好?！?/p>
“I want to go faster,” Bran replied.
“我想再騎快點。”布蘭回答。
Robb smiled. “As you will.” He sent his gelding into a trot. The wolves raced after him. Bran snapped the reins sharply, and Dancer picked up her pace. He heard a shout from Theon Greyjoy, and the hoofbeats of the other horses behind him.
羅柏微笑，“沒問題。”說完他策馬開跑，狼群跟在他后面沖了出去。布蘭用力一扯韁繩，小舞也加快步伐。他聽見席恩·葛雷喬伊一聲吆喝，以及身后雜沓的馬蹄畝。
Bran’s cloak billowed out, rippling in the wind, and the snow seemed to rush at his face. Robb was well ahead, glancing back over his shoulder from time to time to make sure Bran and the others were following. He snapped the reins again. Smooth as silk, Dancer slid into a gallop. The distance closed. By the time he caught Robb on the edge of the wolfswood, two miles beyond the winter town, they had left the others well behind. “I can ride!” Bran shouted, grinning. It felt almost as good as flying.
布蘭的披風(fēng)在風(fēng)中翻騰猶如波浪，落雪迎面撲來。羅柏遙遙領(lǐng)先，不時回頭張望，確定布蘭和其他人跟上。他再度扯韁，小舞如滑絲般流暢地邁步疾奔。兩人的距離逐漸拉近，等他在避冬市鎮(zhèn)兩里外的狼林邊緣追上羅柏時，他們已把其他人遠遠拋在后方?！拔夷茯T馬了！”布蘭嘻嘻笑著大叫，這種感覺好像飛。
“I’d race you, but I fear you’d win.” Robb’s tone was light and joking, yet Bran could tell that something was troubling his brother underneath the smile.-----------------
“我很想跟你賽跑，怕只怕贏不了你?！绷_柏的口氣雖然輕快，帶著戲謔的意味，但在哥哥的笑容背后，布蘭卻看得出他有心事。
“I don’t want to race.” Bran looked around for the direwolves. Both had vanished into the wood. “Did you hear Summer howling last night?”
“我不想跟你比賽?！辈继m四處張望，尋找冰原狼的蹤影。但那兩只狼早就消失在了森林里。“昨晚你聽見夏天叫了嗎？”
“Grey Wind was restless too,” Robb said. His auburn hair had grown shaggy and unkempt, and a reddish stubble covered his jaw, making him look older than his fifteen years. “Sometimes I think they know things?.?.?.?sense things?.?.?.?” Robb sighed. “I never know how much to tell you, Bran. I wish you were older.”
“灰風(fēng)也是焦躁不安?！绷_柏道。他紅棕色的頭發(fā)長長了，未經(jīng)梳理，有些凌亂，幾撮紅胡子遮住了下巴，讓他看起來比十五歲的實際年齡要成熟。“有時候我覺得他們知道很多事……感應(yīng)到很多事……”羅柏嘆口氣，“布蘭，我不知該跟你說多少，我真希望你年紀(jì)再大一點?！?/p>
“I’m eight now!” Bran said. “Eight isn’t so much younger than fifteen, and I’m the heir to Winterfell, after you.”
“我已經(jīng)八歲了！”布蘭說：“八歲和十五歲沒差多少，而且在你之后，我也是臨冬城的繼承人?！?/p>
“So you are.” Robb sounded sad, and even a little scared. “Bran, I need to tell you something. There was a bird last night. From King’s Landing. Maester Luwin woke me.”
“是啊，”羅柏語氣哀傷，甚至有些害怕?！安继m，有件事我必須跟你講清楚。昨晚來了只信鴉，從君臨來，魯溫師傅半夜把我叫醒。”
Bran felt a sudden dread. Dark wings, dark words, Old Nan always said, and of late the messenger ravens had been proving the truth of the proverb. When Robb wrote to the Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch, the bird that came back brought word that Uncle Benjen was still missing. Then a message had arrived from the Eyrie, from Mother, but that had not been good news either. She did not say when she meant to return, only that she had taken the Imp as prisoner. Bran had sort of liked the little man, yet the name Lannister sent cold fingers creeping up his spine. There was something about the Lannisters, something he ought to remember, but when he tried to think what, he felt dizzy and his stomach clenched hard as a stone. Robb spent most of that day locked behind closed doors with Maester Luwin, Theon Greyjoy, and Hallis Mollen. Afterward, riders were sent out on fast horses, carrying Robb’s commands throughout the north. Bran heard talk of Moat Cailin, the ancient stronghold the First Men had built at the top of the Neck. No one ever told him what was happening, yet he knew it was not good.
布蘭突然感到一陣驚恐。黑色的翅膀，黑色的消息，老奶媽總這么說，而近來傳遞信息的渡鴉一再證明了這句俗諺的正確。羅柏寫信給守夜人軍團的司令官，鳥兒卻帶回班揚叔叔依舊下落不明的消息。接著鷹巢城有信傳來，是母親寫的，可惜也并非好消息。她沒說何時回來，只說小惡魔如今是她的犯人。布蘭其實還挺喜歡那矮個子，但“蘭尼斯特”這個姓氏卻教他背脊發(fā)涼。有件和蘭尼斯特有關(guān)的事，他應(yīng)該記得，然而每次他試圖回憶，便覺頭暈?zāi)垦?，腹痛如絞。那一天，羅柏整日把自己關(guān)在房里，和魯溫師傅、席恩·葛雷喬伊，以及哈里斯·莫蘭共商對策。之后信使騎著快馬，將羅柏的命令傳遍北境。布蘭依稀聽到卡林灣這地名，那是先民在頸澤北端筑起的古老要塞。究竟發(fā)生了什么，沒人告訴他，但肯定不是什么好事。
And now another raven, another message. Bran clung to hope. “Was the bird from Mother? Is she coming home?”
這會兒竟又來了一只渡鴉，又帶來新的消息。布蘭強迫自己滿懷希望?！笆悄赣H送來的嗎？她是不是要回家了？”
“The message was from Alyn in King’s Landing. Jory Cassel is dead. And Wyl and Heward as well. Murdered by the Kingslayer.” Robb lifted his face to the snow, and the flakes melted on his cheeks. “May the gods give them rest.”
“信是埃林從君臨寫來的。喬里·凱索死了，還有韋爾和海華。他們慘死于弒君者之手?！绷_柏仰頭面對飄雪，雪片融化在他兩頰?！霸柑焐现T神讓他們安息?！?/p>
Bran did not know what to say. He felt as if he’d been punched. Jory had been captain of the household guard at Winterfell since before Bran was born. “They killed Jory?” He remembered all the times Jory had chased him over the roofs. He could picture him striding across the yard in mail and plate, or sitting at his accustomed place on the bench in the Great Hall, joking as he ate. “Why would anyone kill Jory?”
布蘭不知該說什么才好，只覺自己仿佛被狠揍了一拳。打布蘭出生，喬里就是臨冬城的侍衛(wèi)隊長?！八麄儦⒘藛汤?？”他記得每一次喬里追著他在屋頂上奔跑的情景，他可以清楚地拼湊出他全副鎧甲，大步走過廣場的風(fēng)光，或是坐在廳堂的老位子上，邊吃邊談笑的模樣。“為什么會有人要殺喬里？”
Robb shook his head numbly, the pain plain in his eyes. “I don’t know, and?.?.?.?Bran, that’s not the worst of it. Father was caught beneath a falling horse in the fight. Alyn says his leg was shattered, and?.?.?.?Maester Pycelle has given him the milk of the poppy, but they aren’t sure when?.?.?.?when he . . .” The sound of hoofbeats made him glance down the road, to where Theon and the others were coming up. “When he will wake,” Robb finished. He laid his hand on the pommel of his sword then, and went on in the solemn voice of Robb the Lord. “Bran, I promise you, whatever might happen, I will not let this be forgotten.”
羅柏木然地?fù)u頭，眼里溢滿悲痛?！拔也恢?。還有……布蘭，這不是最糟的消息，父親也在打斗中被摔倒的馬壓住，埃林說他的腿碎了……派席爾大學(xué)士已經(jīng)給他喝了罌粟花奶，但他們不確定什么時候……什么時候他才……”聽見身后的蹄聲，他轉(zhuǎn)頭朝來路望去，席恩等人已經(jīng)趕了上來?！八艜褋?。”羅柏把話說完，伸手按住劍柄，恢復(fù)了羅柏城主的莊嚴(yán)聲調(diào)，“布蘭，我向你保證，不管發(fā)生什么，這個仇我永不會忘。”
Something in his tone made Bran even more fearful. “What will you do?” he asked as Theon Greyjoy reined in beside them.
他的語氣卻更教布蘭害怕?！澳悄愦蛩阍趺崔k？”他問。席恩·葛雷喬伊拉住韁繩，停在他們旁邊。
“Theon thinks I should call the banners,” Robb said.
“席恩認(rèn)為我應(yīng)該立刻召集封臣?！绷_柏說。
“Blood for blood.” For once Greyjoy did not smile. His lean, dark face had a hungry look to it, and black hair fell down across his eyes.
“血債血還?！边@次葛雷喬伊沒有笑。他那張削瘦而黝黑的臉，有種饑渴的神色，黑發(fā)垂下，遮住雙眼。
“Only the lord can call the banners,” Bran said as the snow drifted down around them.
“惟有領(lǐng)主才能召集封臣?！辈继m說，雪持續(xù)飄落在他們周圍。
“If your father dies,” Theon said, “Robb will be Lord of Winterfell.”
“如果令尊去世，”席恩道，“羅柏就是臨冬城公爵。”
“He won’t die!” Bran screamed at him.
“他不會死！”布蘭朝他尖叫。
Robb took his hand. “He won’t die, not Father,” he said calmly. “Still?.?.?.?the honor of the north is in my hands now. When our lord father took his leave of us, he told me to be strong for you and for Rickon. I’m almost a man grown, Bran.”
羅柏握住他的手?！八粫溃赣H大人不會死。”他平靜地說?！翱墒恰缃癖本车臉s譽系于我手。父親大人臨行前曾對我說，為了你和瑞肯，我一定要堅強。布蘭，我?guī)缀跏浅赡耆肆?。?/p>
Bran shivered. “I wish Mother was back,” he said miserably. He looked around for Maester Luwin; his donkey was visible in the far distance, trotting over a rise. “Does Maester Luwin say to call the banners too?”
布蘭顫抖不已?！澳赣H如果在就好了?！彼蓱z兮兮地說。他轉(zhuǎn)頭尋找魯溫師傅的身影，他的驢子在遠處依稀可見，此刻正小跑步爬上緩丘?！棒敎貛煾狄舱J(rèn)為應(yīng)該征召諸侯嗎？”
“The maester is timid as an old woman,” said Theon.
“師傅他和老女人一樣，膽小著呢?！毕鞯?。
“Father always listened to his counsel,” Bran reminded his brother. “Mother too.”
“但父親向來聽從他的忠告，”布蘭提醒哥哥，“母親也是?！?/p>
“I listen to him,” Robb insisted. “I listen to everyone.”
“我也聽，”羅柏堅持，“每個人的意見我都聽。”
The joy Bran had felt at the ride was gone, melted away like the snowflakes on his face. Not so long ago, the thought of Robb calling the banners and riding off to war would have filled him with excitement, but now he felt only dread. “Can we go back now?” he asked. “I’m cold.”
布蘭外出騎馬的喜悅，此刻已經(jīng)消失得無影無蹤，像臉上的雪片般融化殆盡。若是從前，聽到羅柏要召集封臣，率軍出征，他一定會興奮難耐，然而現(xiàn)在他感到的卻只有恐懼。“我們可以回去了嗎？”他問，“我覺得好冷?！?/p>
Robb glanced around. “We need to find the wolves. Can you stand to go a bit longer?”
羅柏環(huán)顧四周?！暗孟劝牙钦业?。你能再忍耐一會兒嗎？”
“I can go as long as you can.” Maester Luwin had warned him to keep the ride short, for fear of saddle sores, but Bran would not admit to weakness in front of his brother. He was sick of the way everyone was always fussing over him and asking how he was.
“你能騎多久，我就能騎多久?！濒敎貛煾翟嫠T馬時間不要太長，惟恐他在馬鞍上坐久了全身會酸痛，但布蘭不愿在哥哥面前自承虛弱。他受夠了大家成天大驚小怪，對他的身體問長問短。
“Let’s hunt down the hunters, then,” Robb said. Side by side, they urged their mounts off the kingsroad and struck out into the wolfswood. Theon dropped back and followed well behind them, talking and joking with the guardsmen.
“那我們這就去把小獵人給獵回來吧?！绷_柏說。于是他們并肩而行，驅(qū)策坐騎離開國王大道，進入狼林。席恩遠遠落在后面，和其他衛(wèi)士談笑。
It was nice under the trees. Bran kept Dancer to a walk, holding the reins lightly and looking all around him as they went. He knew this wood, but he had been so long confined to Winterfell that he felt as though he were seeing it for the first time. The smells filled his nostrils; the sharp fresh tang of pine needles, the earthy odor of wet rotting leaves, the hints of animal musk and distant cooking fires. He caught a glimpse of a black squirrel moving through the snow-covered branches of an oak, and paused to study the silvery web of an empress spider.
置身林問的感覺真好。布蘭輕握馬韁，讓小舞緩步慢行，一邊四處觀望。他很熟悉這座森林，然而在長期坐困臨冬城后，如今卻有初次造訪的興味。樹林里的氣息充溢他的鼻孔：新鮮松針的明銳香氣，濕軟腐葉的泥土芬芳，還有模糊的動物麝香，以及遠方炊煙的味道。他瞥見一只黑松鼠的身影，在一棵被雪覆蓋的橡樹枝干間穿梭，接著又駐足欣賞女王蛛所織就的銀色蛛網(wǎng)。
Theon and the others fell farther and farther behind, until Bran could no longer hear their voices. From ahead came the faint sound of rushing waters. It grew louder until they reached the stream. Tears stung his eyes.
席恩和其他人離他們越來越遠，到后來布蘭已聽不見他們的聲音。前方傳來模糊的流水聲。水聲漸大，直到他們抵達溪邊。這時，淚水刺痛了他的眼。
“Bran?” Robb asked. “What’s wrong?”
“布蘭？”羅柏問，“你怎么了？”
Bran shook his head. “I was just remembering,” he said. “Jory brought us here once, to fish for trout. You and me and Jon. Do you remember?”
布蘭搖搖頭?！拔抑皇窍肫饛那暗氖??！彼f，“有一次喬里帶我們來這兒抓鱒魚。就你、我還有瓊恩，記得嗎？”
“I remember,” Robb said, his voice quiet and sad.
“我記得?！绷_柏說，他的語調(diào)平靜而哀傷。
“I didn’t catch anything,” Bran said, “but Jon gave me his fish on the way back to Winterfell. Will we ever see Jon again?”
“結(jié)果我什么也沒抓到，”布蘭說，“可在回臨冬城的路上，瓊恩卻把他抓的魚都給了我。我們還能再見到瓊恩嗎？”
“We saw Uncle Benjen when the king came to visit,” Robb pointed out. “Jon will visit too, you’ll see.”
“上次國王來訪，我們不就看到了班揚叔叔？”羅柏告訴他，“瓊恩也會回來作客，你等著瞧吧?！?/p>
The stream was running high and fast. Robb dismounted and led his gelding across the ford. In the deepest part of the crossing, the water came up to midthigh. He tied his horse to a tree on the far side, and waded back across for Bran and Dancer. The current foamed around rock and root, and Bran could feel the spray on his face as Robb led him over. It made him smile. For a moment he felt strong again, and whole. He looked up at the trees and dreamed of climbing them, right up to the very top, with the whole forest spread out beneath him.
溪流湍急，水勢高漲。羅柏下馬，牽著坐騎越過淺灘。渡口最深處，水及大腿。他把馬兒拴在對岸的一棵樹上，然后涉水回來帶布蘭和小舞過去。溪流拍打著巖石和樹根，激起陣陣飛沫，羅柏當(dāng)先領(lǐng)他渡河，布蘭可以感覺水花濺到臉上。他笑了。一時之間，他覺得自己又是身強體壯，四肢健全。他仰望樹林，夢想自己能爬上去，攀上樹頂，讓整片樹海盡展眼前。
They were on the far side when they heard the howl, a long rising wail that moved through the trees like a cold wind. Bran raised his head to listen. “Summer,” he said. No sooner had he spoken than a second voice joined the first.
他們抵達對岸時，只聽樹林里傳來一聲長嚎，音調(diào)漸高，哀嘆久長，仿如穿梭林間的一陣?yán)滹L(fēng)。布蘭抬首聆聽?！澳鞘窍奶??！彼f。話音剛落，第二陣嚎聲便加入進來。
“They’ve made a kill,” Robb said as he remounted. “I’d best go and bring them back. Wait here, Theon and the others should be along shortly.”
“他們殺死獵物了。”羅柏邊說邊騎上馬?！拔铱次易詈萌麄兓貋?。你在這里等，席恩他們應(yīng)該馬上就到?！?/p>
“I want to go with you,” Bran said.
“我想跟你一起去?！辈继m說。
“I’ll find them faster by myself.” Robb spurred his gelding and vanished into the trees.
“我自己去比較快?！绷_柏一踢馬刺，消失在樹林里。
Once he was gone, the woods seemed to close in around Bran. The snow was falling more heavily now. Where it touched the ground it melted, but all about him rock and root and branch wore a thin blanket of white. As he waited, he was conscious of how uncomfortable he felt. He could not feel his legs, hanging useless in the stirrups, but the strap around his chest was tight and chafing, and the melting snow had soaked through his gloves to chill his hands. He wondered what was keeping Theon and Maester Luwin and Joseth and the rest.
他走后，整個森林仿佛朝布蘭包圍過來。雪下得更大，雖然一碰地面就會融化，但他周遭的巖石、樹根和枝干卻都覆上了一層薄薄的白。他等待之時，方才察覺到自己有多不舒服：雙腿沒有知覺，毫無用處地掛在馬鐙上；胸膛的皮帶綁得很緊，擦傷了皮膚；雪水融化滲進手套，凍得他兩手發(fā)麻。他不禁奇怪席恩、魯溫師傅，以及喬賽斯等人怎么還沒來。
When he heard the rustle of leaves, Bran used the reins to make Dancer turn, expecting to see his friends, but the ragged men who stepped out onto the bank of the stream were strangers.
隨后他聽見樹葉沙沙作響，布蘭立刻拉動韁繩，教小舞轉(zhuǎn)身，迎向他的朋友們。然而從林中走到溪邊的，卻是一群衣著破爛的陌生人。（文＇心＇手＇打＇組＇手＇打＇整＇理）
“Good day to you,” he said nervously. One look, and Bran knew they were neither foresters nor farmers. He was suddenly conscious of how richly he was dressed. His surcoat was new, dark grey wool with silver buttons, and a heavy silver pin fastened his fur-trimmed cloak at the shoulders. His boots and gloves were lined with fur as well.
“你們好?！彼o張地說。只需一眼，布蘭便知他們既非林務(wù)官，亦非農(nóng)民。他猛然驚覺自己衣著華麗，身上穿著嶄新的深灰色羊毛外套，縫了銀扣，絨毛邊的披風(fēng)用一個沉甸甸的銀別針系在肩頭。他的皮靴和手套也都滾了絨毛邊。
“All alone, are you?” said the biggest of them, a bald man with a raw windburnt face. “Lost in the wolfswood, poor lad.”
“你，就一個人??？”其中個子最大，滿臉風(fēng)霜痕跡的光頭男子說，“可憐的小鬼，在狼林里迷了路?！?/p>
“I’m not lost.” Bran did not like the way the strangers were looking at him. He counted four, but when he turned his head, he saw two others behind him. “My brother rode off just a moment ago, and my guard will be here shortly.”
“我沒有迷路?！辈继m不喜歡這群陌生人盯著他瞧的模樣。對方一共四人，他一轉(zhuǎn)頭看到背后還有兩個?！拔腋绺鐒傋?，我的衛(wèi)兵馬上就來。”
“Your guard, is it?” a second man said. Grey stubble covered his gaunt face. “And what would they be guarding, my little lord? Is that a silver pin I see there on your cloak?”
“你的衛(wèi)兵，啊哈？”另一個面容憔悴，一臉灰胡碴的人說，“小少爺，我倒問問你，他們要守衛(wèi)什么??？守衛(wèi)你披風(fēng)上那個銀別針嗎？”
“Pretty,” said a woman’s voice. She scarcely looked like a woman; tall and lean, with the same hard face as the others, her hair hidden beneath a bowl-shaped halfhelm. The spear she held was eight feet of black oak, tipped in rusted steel.
“真是個漂亮東西?！边@次是女人的聲音。她看起來委實不太像女人；又高又瘦，和其他人同樣的苦臉，頭發(fā)則埋藏在碗狀的半罩頭盔下。她手中的長矛是根八尺長的黑橡木棍，前面安著銹掉的槍尖。
“Let’s have a look,” said the big bald man.
“給咱們瞧瞧?！惫忸^大漢說。
Bran watched him anxiously. The man’s clothes were filthy, fallen almost to pieces, patched here with brown and here with blue and there with a dark green, and faded everywhere to grey, but once that cloak might have been black. The grey stubbly man wore black rags too, he saw with a sudden start. Suddenly Bran remembered the oathbreaker his father had beheaded, the day they had found the wolf pups; that man had worn black as well, and Father said he had been a deserter from the Night’s Watch. No man is more dangerous, he remembered Lord Eddard saying. The deserter knows his life is forfeit if he is taken, so he will not flinch from any crime, no matter how vile or cruel.
布蘭不安地看著他。這人的衣服骯臟污穢、破爛不堪，東一塊棕，西一塊藍，還有一塊暗綠補丁，其余的地方則通通褪成灰色，但看得出原本是件黑斗篷。他突然發(fā)現(xiàn)，那個一臉灰胡碴的人也穿著黑色破衣。布蘭驀地想起他們找到小狼當(dāng)天，被父親砍頭的那個背棄誓言的人，衣著也是黑色，而父親說他是守夜人部隊的逃兵。世間最危險的人莫過于此，他想起艾德公爵的話，因為他們自知一旦被捕，只有死路一條，于是惡向膽邊生，再傷天害理的勾當(dāng)也干得出來。
“The pin, lad,” the big man said. He held out his hand.
“小鬼，把別針拿來?！贝鬂h伸出手說。
“We’ll take the horse too,” said another of them, a woman shorter than Robb, with a broad fiat face and lank yellow hair. “Get down, and be quick about it.” A knife slid from her sleeve into her hand, its edge jagged as a saw.
“還有你的馬，”另一個女人說，她的個子比羅柏矮，生了一張扁扁的寬臉和一頭黃色直發(fā)?！翱旖o我下來?！币话唁h呈鋸齒的匕首從她袖里閃進手中。
“No,” Bran blurted. “I can’t?.?.?.?”
“可是，”布蘭脫口而出，“我沒辦法……”
The big man grabbed his reins before Bran could think to wheel Dancer around and gallop off. “You can, lordling?.?.?.?and will, if you know what’s good for you.”
布蘭還沒想到調(diào)轉(zhuǎn)小舞開步逃走，大漢便一把抓住了韁繩?！靶∩贍?，你當(dāng)然有辦法……而且一定得想辦法，如果你不想吃苦頭的話?！?/p>
“Stiv, look how he’s strapped on.” The tall woman pointed with her spear. “Might be it’s the truth he’s telling.”
“史帝夫，你瞧，他被綁在馬鞍上，”高個女人用長槍指著說，“或許他說的是實話。”
“Straps, is it?” Stiv said. He drew a dagger from a sheath at his belt. “There’s ways to deal with straps.”
“綁起來了，是嗎？”史帝夫說。他從腰間的刀鞘里抽出匕首?！斑@不成問題?！?/p>
“You some kind of cripple?” asked the short woman.
“你殘廢了還是怎么了？”矮個女人問。
Bran flared. “I’m Brandon Stark of Winterfell, and you better let go of my horse, or I’ll see you all dead.”
布蘭怒道：“我是臨冬城的布蘭登·史塔克，你最好放開我的馬，否則我教你們通通沒命。”
The gaunt man with the grey stubbled face laughed. “The boy’s a Stark, true enough. Only a Stark would be fool enough to threaten where smarter men would beg.”
一臉灰胡碴的瘦子哈哈大笑?！拔铱催@小子準(zhǔn)是史塔克家的人沒錯，只有史塔克家的人才這么笨，該討?zhàn)埖臅r候還要狠?！?/p>
“Cut his little cock off and stuff it in his mouth,” suggested the short woman. “That should shut him up.”
“把他小雞雞割下來塞他嘴里，”矮個女人提議，“這樣他肯定閉嘴。”
“You’re as stupid as you are ugly, Hali,” said the tall woman. “The boy’s worth nothing dead, but alive?.?.?.?gods be damned, think what Mance would give to have Benjen Stark’s own blood to hostage!”
“哈莉，你已經(jīng)夠丑了，沒想到還這么沒腦子?！备邆€女人道，“這孩子死了就不值錢啦，可要留著活口……天殺的，想想曼斯手上若有了班揚·史塔克的親屬當(dāng)人質(zhì)，他會怎么賞我們！”
“Mance be damned,” the big man cursed. “You want to go back there, Osha? More fool you. Think the white walkers will care if you have a hostage?” He turned back to Bran and slashed at the strap around his thigh. The leather parted with a sigh.
“曼斯見鬼去，”大漢咒道，“你還想回去，歐莎？我看你才沒腦子。你以為白鬼會管你手上有沒有人質(zhì)？”他轉(zhuǎn)向布蘭，割開他大腿的皮帶。皮革仿佛松了口氣似地分開。
The stroke had been quick and careless, biting deep. Looking down, Bran glimpsed pale flesh where the wool of his leggings had parted. Then the blood began to flow. He watched the red stain spread, feeling light-headed, curiously apart; there had been no pain, not even a hint of feeling. The big man grunted in surprise.
他出手很快，又沒有留心，結(jié)果割得很深。布蘭低頭，看到羊毛綁腿被割開的地方，露出白皙的大腿肉。接著血涌出來，他望著紅色的血漬逐漸擴散，感覺輕微頭暈，卻意外地疏離，絲毫不覺疼痛，連一點感覺都沒有。大漢驚訝地哼了一聲。
“Put down your steel now, and I promise you shall have a quick and painless death,” Robb called out.
“立刻放下武器，我保證讓你們死得干脆?！绷_柏叫道。
Bran looked up in desperate hope, and there he was. The strength of the words were undercut by the way his voice cracked with strain. He was mounted, the bloody carcass of an elk slung across the back of his horse, his sword in a gloved hand.
布蘭懷著最后一絲希望抬起頭，他果真出現(xiàn)在那里?？上欠挼耐?yán)，卻被緊張嘶啞的聲調(diào)所減低。他騎著馬，麇鹿血淋淋的尸體掛在馬背，手握長劍。
“The brother,” said the man with the grey stubbly face.
“老哥回來了。”灰胡碴的男子道。
“He’s a fierce one, he is,” mocked the short woman. Hali, they called her. “You mean to fight us, boy?”
“喲，這家伙挺兇悍嘛?！卑珎€女人譏諷他。他們叫她哈莉?！澳阆敫蹅兇?，小鬼頭？”
“Don’t be a fool, lad. You’re one against six.” The tall woman, Osha, leveled her spear. “Off the horse, and throw down the sword. We’ll thank you kindly for the mount and for the venison, and you and your brother can be on your way.”
“小子，你這是以一對六，別傻了?！备邆€的歐莎平舉長槍?！摆s快下馬，把劍扔了。我們會謝謝你的馬兒和鹿肉，然后放你和你弟弟走路?！?/p>
Robb whistled. They heard the faint sound of soft feet on wet leaves. The undergrowth parted, low-hanging branches giving up their accumulation of snow, and Grey Wind and Summer emerged from the green. Summer sniffed the air and growled.
羅柏吹聲口哨。眾人聽見腳步輕踩濕葉的聲響。矮樹叢低垂的枝椏灑下覆蓋的雪，向兩旁分開，灰風(fēng)和夏天自一片綠色中穿出。夏天嗅嗅風(fēng)中的氣息，出聲低吼。
“Wolves,” gasped Hali.
“狼來了。”哈莉噤聲道。
“Direwolves,” Bran said. Still half-grown, they were as large as any wolf he had ever seen, but the differences were easy to spot, if you knew what to look for. Maester Luwin and Farlen the kennelmaster had taught him. A direwolf had a bigger head and longer legs in proportion to its body, and its snout and jaw were markedly leaner and more pronounced. There was something gaunt and terrible about them as they stood there amid the gently falling snow. Fresh blood spotted Grey Wind’s muzzle.
“是冰原狼?！辈继m說。雖然并未發(fā)育完全，他們的體格也只有一般狼大小，但若仔細(xì)觀察，很容易分辨出差異所在。魯溫師傅和馴獸長法蘭教過他：冰原狼的頭比較大，四肢較長，鼻子和下巴則特別尖細(xì)、形狀明顯。站在輕飄的細(xì)雪里，他們懷著憔悴而駭人的神態(tài)?；绎L(fēng)的口鼻沾滿鮮血。
“Dogs,” the big bald man said contemptuously. “Yet I’m told there’s nothing like a wolfskin cloak to warm a man by night.” He made a sharp gesture. “Take them.”
“兩只臭狗。”光頭男子輕蔑地說，“我倒是知道，夜里沒什么比狼皮斗篷更保暖?！彼偷刈隽藗€手勢?！澳孟?！”
Robb shouted, “Winterfell!” and kicked his horse. The gelding plunged down the bank as the ragged men closed. A man with an axe rushed in, shouting and heedless. Robb’s sword caught him full in the face with a sickening crunch and a spray of bright blood. The man with the gaunt stubbly face made a grab for the reins, and for half a second he had them?.?.?.?and then Grey Wind was on him, bearing him down. He fell back into the stream with a splash and a shout, flailing wildly with his knife as his head went under. The direwolf plunged in after him, and the white water turned red where they had vanished.
羅柏高喊：“臨名冬城萬歲！”然后踢馬向前。公馬跳進溪里，衣衫襤褸的敵人圍了過去。有個人拿著斧頭，沒頭沒腦地大叫著朝他沖來。羅柏的長劍正中對方面門，發(fā)出令人作嘔的碎裂聲，隨即鮮血四濺。一臉胡碴的人伸手去扯韁繩，才抓住半秒……只見灰風(fēng)一躍而起把他撲倒。他噗通一聲跌進溪里，吶喊著，瘋狂地?fù)]舞著短刀，頭部被水淹沒。冰原狼跳上去繼續(xù)攻擊，兩人消失在水中，轉(zhuǎn)眼之間，白色的河水便轉(zhuǎn)為殷紅。
Robb and Osha matched blows in midstream. Her long spear was a steel-headed serpent, flashing out at his chest, once, twice, three times, but Robb parried every thrust with his longsword, turning the point aside. On the fourth or fifth thrust, the tall woman overextended herself and lost her balance, just for a second. Robb charged, riding her down.
羅柏和歐莎在河中央打得不可開交。她的長槍活像條鋼頭毒蛇，閃電般朝他胸口竄去，一次、兩次、三次，但羅柏的長劍擋下每一記攻勢，撥開刺來的槍尖。在她第四還是第五次突刺時，高個女人用力過猛，失了重心，僅一秒的時間，羅柏便騎馬沖鋒，把她踩在蹄下。
A few feet away, Summer darted in and snapped at Hali. The knife bit at his flank. Summer slid away, snarling, and came rushing in again. This time his jaws closed around her calf. Holding the knife with both hands, the small woman stabbed down, but the direwolf seemed to sense the blade coming. He pulled free for an instant, his mouth full of leather and cloth and bloody flesh. When Hali stumbled and fell, he came at her again, slamming her backward, teeth tearing at her belly.
幾尺外，夏天向前疾跳，撲咬哈莉，結(jié)果后背反挨一記短刀。夏天咆哮著后退，再度沖刺。這回他的利齒緊緊咬住她的小腿。矮個女人兩手握刀，死命向下插去，然而冰原狼仿佛能感應(yīng)危險，迅速松開抽身，撕下滿嘴皮革、碎布和血淋淋的肉塊。哈莉跌倒在地，他又撲跳上前，把她向后撞開，撕咬她的小腹。
The sixth man ran from the carnage?.?.?.?but not far. As he went scrambling up the far side of the bank, Grey Wind emerged from the stream, dripping wet. He shook the water off and bounded after the running man, hamstringing him with a single snap of his teeth, and going for the throat as the screaming man slid back down toward the water.
第五個人想逃離這場屠殺……可惜卻沒跑遠。他正踉蹌著爬上對岸，灰風(fēng)渾身濕淋淋地從河里冒出，甩甩身上的水，箭步追去。冰原狼嘴巴一張一闔，咬斷他的腿筋，接著去咬他的喉嚨，那人慘叫著滑進河里。
And then there was no one left but the big man, Stiv. He slashed at Bran’s chest strap, grabbed his arm, and yanked. Suddenly Bran was falling. He sprawled on the ground, his legs tangled under him, one foot in the stream. He could not feel the cold of the water, but he felt the steel when Stiv pressed his dagger to his throat. “Back away,” the man warned, “or I’ll open the boy’s windpipe, I swear it.”
此時只剩那個大漢史帝夫了。他割開布蘭胸前的皮帶，抓住他的臂膀用力一扯，布蘭便從馬背上摔下來。他癱在地上，雙腿糾纏一團，被身體壓住，一只腳還滑進了溪里。他感覺不到冰冷的河水，卻感覺得出史帝夫按在他喉嚨的匕首?！巴撕?，”他警告道，“不然我發(fā)誓會把這小鬼的氣管給割了。”
Robb reined his horse in, breathing hard. The fury went out of his eyes, and his sword arm dropped.
羅柏勒住馬，急劇地喘氣。怒意從他眼底消失，持劍的手也垂軟下來。
In that moment Bran saw everything. Summer was savaging Hali, pulling glistening blue snakes from her belly. Her eyes were wide and staring. Bran could not tell whether she was alive or dead. The grey stubbly man and the one with the axe lay unmoving, but Osha was on her knees, crawling toward her fallen spear. Grey Wind padded toward her, dripping wet. “Call him off!” the big man shouted. “Call them both off, or the cripple boy dies now!”
就在那一剎那，整個局勢在布蘭眼前一覽無遺。夏天正對付哈莉，從她肚子里扯出一條條發(fā)亮的藍色小蛇。她的眼睛睜得老大，瞪著冰原狼。布蘭辨不清她究竟是死是活。灰胡碴和拿斧頭那兩個人躺著一動不動。歐莎則爬了起來，正朝她的長槍挪去?；绎L(fēng)渾身滴水，啪噠啪噠朝她走近?！敖兴唛_！”大漢喊道，“把他們都叫開，不然這殘廢小鬼現(xiàn)在就死！”
“Grey Wind, Summer, to me,” Robb said.
“灰風(fēng)，夏天，過來?！绷_柏道。
The direwolves stopped, turned their heads. Grey Wind loped back to Robb. Summer stayed where he was, his eyes on Bran and the man beside him. He growled. His muzzle was wet and red, but his eyes burned.
冰原狼停步，回頭?；绎L(fēng)飛奔到羅柏身邊，夏天則留在原地，看著布蘭和他身旁的人，發(fā)出低吼。它的口鼻鮮血淋漓，雙眼燃燒著怒火。
Osha used the butt end of her spear to lever herself back to her feet. Blood leaked from a wound on the upper arm where Robb had cut her. Bran could see sweat trickling down the big man’s face. Stiv was as scared as he was, he realized. “Starks,” the man muttered, “bloody Starks.” He raised his voice. “Osha, kill the wolves and get his sword.”
歐莎撐著槍尾站起來。她的上臂被羅柏砍了一劍，汨汨流血。布蘭看到大漢滿臉是汗，這才明白史帝夫和自己同樣害怕?！笆匪耍彼?，“該死的史塔克?！彼岣咭袅俊！皻W莎，把狼宰了，拿走他的劍?！?/p>
“Kill them yourself,” she replied. “I’ll not be getting near those monsters.”
“要殺你自己殺，”她回答，“我死也不靠近那些怪物?！?/p>
For a moment Stiv was at a loss. His hand trembled; Bran felt a trickle of blood where the knife pressed against his neck. The stench of the man filled his nose; he smelled of fear. “You,” he called out to Robb. “You have a name?”
史帝夫似乎突然間沒了主意。他的手開始發(fā)抖，布蘭只覺得刀鋒緊貼脖子，血順著滴下來。男人的臭味充塞他鼻孔，那是一種恐俱的氣息?！拔?，”他朝羅柏喊，“你叫啥名字？”
“I am Robb Stark, the heir to Winterfell.”
“我是羅柏·史塔克，臨冬城的繼承人?！?/p>
“This is your brother?”
“這是你弟？”
“Yes.”
“對?！?/p>
“You want him alive, you do what I say. Off the horse.”
“如果你要他活命，就照我的話辦。下馬?！?/p>
Robb hesitated a moment. Then, slowly and deliberately, he dismounted and stood with his sword in hand.
羅柏遲疑片刻，接著便刻意緩慢下馬，持劍站立。
“Now kill the wolves.”
“現(xiàn)在把狼宰了。”
Robb did not move.
羅柏沒動。
“You do it. The wolves or the boy.”
“快殺，不然這小鬼就沒命。”
“No!” Bran screamed. If Robb did as they asked, Stiv would kill them both anyway, once the direwolves were dead.
“不要！”布蘭尖叫。就算羅柏照辦，等冰原狼一死，史帝夫也不會放過他們倆。
The bald man took hold of his hair with his free hand and twisted it cruelly, till Bran sobbed in pain. “You shut your mouth, cripple, you hear me?” He twisted harder. “You hear me?”
光頭用另一只手抓住他的頭發(fā)，使勁狠狠地一扭，直到布蘭痛得失聲啜泣。“小廢物，你給我閉嘴，聽到了沒？”他更用力地擰?！澳懵牭搅藳]？”
A low thrum came from the woods behind them. Stiv gave a choked gasp as a half foot of razor-tipped broadhead suddenly exploded out of his chest. The arrow was bright red, as if it had been painted in blood.
颼的一聲，從背后的樹林傳來。史帝夫聲音一緊，喘不過氣來。只見一個半尺長，利如剃刀的寬大箭頭突然自他胸膛爆出。那枝箭整個成了鮮紅，沐浴在血中。
The dagger fell away from Bran’s throat. The big man swayed and collapsed, facedown in the stream. The arrow broke beneath him. Bran watched his life go swirling off in the water.
布蘭喉頭的匕首松落，大漢晃了晃，面朝下倒在溪里。箭被他壓斷，布蘭看著他的血淌進水中。
Osha glanced around as Father’s guardsmen appeared from beneath the trees, steel in hand. She threw down her spear. “Mercy, m’lord,” she called to Robb.
歐莎四處張望；父親的侍衛(wèi)從樹底下冒出來，手里都握著武器。她連忙拋下長槍。“大人饒命。”她朝羅柏叫道。
The guardsmen had a strange, pale look to their faces as they took in the scene of slaughter. They eyed the wolves uncertainly, and when Summer returned to Hali’s corpse to feed, Joseth dropped his knife and scrambled for the bush, heaving. Even Maester Luwin seemed shocked as he stepped from behind a tree, but only for an instant. Then he shook his head and waded across the stream to Bran’s side. “Are you hurt?”
見到眼前的屠殺景象，衛(wèi)士們個個臉色蒼白，神情怪異。他們猶豫地看著兩只狼，而當(dāng)夏天回去享用哈莉的尸體時，喬賽斯丟下獵刀，轉(zhuǎn)身返回樹叢邊嘔吐。就連魯溫師傅從林子里出來時，也是一臉驚駭。他隨即恢復(fù)過來，搖搖頭，涉水渡河到布蘭身邊?！澳闶軅藛?？”
“He cut my leg,” Bran said, “but I couldn’t feel it.”
“他砍傷了我的腳，”布蘭說：“可我沒感覺?！?/p>
As the maester knelt to examine the wound, Bran turned his head. Theon Greyjoy stood beside a sentinel tree, his bow in hand. He was smiling. Ever smiling. A half-dozen arrows were thrust into the soft ground at his feet, but it had taken only one. “A dead enemy is a thing of beauty,” he announced.
老師傅彎身檢視他的傷口，布蘭別過頭去，看見席恩·葛雷喬伊站在一棵哨兵樹下，手里拿著弓，嘴上掛著笑。這家伙永遠都在微笑。他腳邊的軟泥地上插了五六枝箭，但他只用了一枝?！白詈玫臄橙司褪撬赖舻臄橙?。”他得意洋洋地表示。
“Jon always said you were an ass, Greyjoy,” Robb said loudly. “I ought to chain you up in the yard and let Bran take a few practice shots at you.”
“葛雷喬伊，瓊恩老說你是個渾球。”羅柏朗聲道，“我真該用鐵鏈把你綁起來，放在場子里給布蘭當(dāng)箭靶。”
“You should be thanking me for saving your brother’s life.”
“你怎么不謝謝我救了你老弟的命？”
“What if you had missed the shot?” Robb said. “What if you’d only wounded him? What if you had made his hand jump, or hit Bran instead? For all you knew, the man might have been wearing a breastplate, all you could see was the back of his cloak. What would have happened to my brother then? Did you ever think of that, Greyjoy?”
“要是你沒射中怎么辦？”羅柏道，“要是你沒射死他怎么辦？要是你那一箭抖了他的手，或是命中布蘭怎么辦？你從后面只看得到他的斗篷，怎么知道他沒穿胸甲？如果他真的穿了，那我弟弟會怎么樣？葛雷喬伊，你有沒有想過？”
Theon’s smile was gone. He gave a sullen shrug and began to pull his arrows from the ground, one by one.
席恩的笑容消失了。他悻悻地聳肩，然后開始把箭一根根從地上拔起來。
Robb glared at his guardsmen. “Where were you?” he demanded of them. “I was sure you were close behind us.”
羅柏瞪著侍衛(wèi)們。“你們跑哪兒去了？”他質(zhì)問，“我要你們緊跟在后?！?/p>
The men traded unhappy glances. “We were following, m’lord,” said Quent, the youngest of them, his beard a soft brown fuzz. “Only first we waited for Maester Luwin and his ass, begging your pardons, and then, well, as it were?.?.?.?” He glanced over at Theon and quickly looked away, abashed.
守衛(wèi)們交換著悶悶不樂的眼神。“大人，我們是跟在后面。”里面年紀(jì)最輕，長了棕色細(xì)胡的昆特說，“可我們要等魯溫師傅和他的驢，請大人原諒，然后，這個嘛，就是……”他瞄了席恩一眼，隨即尷尬地別開頭。
“I spied a turkey,” Theon said, annoyed by the question. “How was I to know that you’d leave the boy alone?”
“我在路上看到只火雞，”席恩氣惱地說，“我哪知道你會丟下小鬼不管？”
Robb turned his head to look at Theon once more. Bran had never seen him so angry, yet he said nothing. Finally he knelt beside Maester Luwin. “How badly is my brother wounded?”
羅柏再度轉(zhuǎn)頭瞪看席恩。布蘭從未見他這么生氣過，但他沒有多說，只在魯溫師傅身旁蹲下來?！拔业艿艿膫麆萑绾?？”
“No more than a scratch,” the maester said. He wet a cloth in the stream to clean the cut. “Two of them wear the black,” he told Robb as he worked.
“破了點皮罷了?！崩蠈W(xué)士說。他把一塊布在溪里浸濕，用來清洗傷口。“有兩個人穿著黑衫軍的衣服。”他邊弄邊告訴羅柏。
Robb glanced over at where Stiv lay sprawled in the stream, his ragged black cloak moving fitfully as the rushing waters tugged at it. “Deserters from the Night’s Watch,” he said grimly. “They must have been fools, to come so close to Winterfell.”
羅柏轉(zhuǎn)頭望向倒臥溪中的史帝夫，溪流不斷拉扯著他破爛的黑斗篷。“守夜人軍團的逃兵，”他口氣嚴(yán)峻地說，“他們一定是沒腦子，才會跑到離臨冬城這么近的地方來?！?/p>
“Folly and desperation are ofttimes hard to tell apart,” said Maester Luwin.
“由愚蠢或絕望所生的行為，彼此常常難以區(qū)分?！濒敎貛煾档?。
“Shall we bury them, m’lord?” asked Quent.
“大人，我們要埋葬他們嗎？”昆特問。
“They would not have buried us,” Robb said. “Hack off their heads, we’ll send them back to the Wall. Leave the rest for the carrion crows.”
“他們可不打算為我們安葬?！绷_柏說，“把頭砍下，送到長城。剩下的就留給烏鴉。”
“And this one?” Quent jerked a thumb toward Osha.
“那她呢？”昆特用拇指指了指歐莎。
Robb walked over to her. She was a head taller than he was, but she dropped to her knees at his approach. “Give me my life, m’lord of Stark, and I am yours.”
羅柏朝她走去。她比羅柏足足高出一頭，但見他過來，卻連忙跪下?！笆匪舜笕耍竽埼乙幻?，我的人是您的了。”
“Mine? What would I do with an oathbreaker?”
“我的人？我要個背誓者做什么？”
“I broke no oaths. Stiv and Wallen flew down off the Wall, not me. The black crows got no place for women.”
“我沒有背棄誓約。從長城逃出來的是史帝夫和華倫，不是我。那群黑烏鴉不收女人?！?/p>
Theon Greyjoy sauntered closer. “Give her to the wolves,” he urged Robb. The woman’s eyes went to what was left of Hali, and just as quickly away. She shuddered. Even the guardsmen looked queasy.
席恩·葛雷喬伊慢悠悠地晃過來?！澳盟估??！彼麘Z恿羅柏。女人的視線望向哈莉的殘骸，趕緊顫抖著轉(zhuǎn)開。那景象連侍衛(wèi)們看了也直想吐。
“She’s a woman,” Robb said.
“她是個女的?！绷_柏說。
“A wildling,” Bran told him. “She said they should keep me alive so they could take me to Mance Rayder.”
“也是個野人。”布蘭告訴他，“是她叫他們留我活口，好把我交給曼斯·雷德的?！?/p>
“Do you have a name?” Robb asked her.
“你有名字嗎？”羅柏問她。
“Osha, as it please the lord,” she muttered sourly.
“大人高興的話，叫我歐莎就成?！彼崴岬氐吐暤馈?/p>
Maester Luwin stood. “We might do well to question her.”
魯溫師傅站起來?！氨P問一番比較穩(wěn)妥。”
Bran could see the relief on his brother’s face. “As you say, Maester. Wayn, bind her hands. She’ll come back to Winterfell with us?.?.?.?and live or die by the truths she gives us.”
布蘭看見哥哥臉上如釋重負(fù)的表情?！澳蔷瓦@樣罷，師傅。韋恩，把她的手捆起來。她跟我們一起回臨冬城……是生是死，就得由她的話來決定了?！?/p>
